The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has published the annual classification list for commercial shellfish (bivalve mollusc) production areas across Ireland, assessing classifications of production areas against strict food hygiene standards. As part of the 2026 annual review, 139 classifications were reviewed and of these:
- 17 classifications improved.
- 13 classifications were reduced, though not all were due to reduction in standards of classified area monitoring results, noting:
- three downgrades were due to insufficient sampling to maintain previous classifications,
- one was due to an area being declared dormant due to a lack of current production there,
- the remaining nine reductions related to out of range (elevated) water quality monitoring results in comparison with most recent classification levels of those areas (e.g. B standard results from A classified areas).
- 109 classifications showed no change in status relative to the 2025 annual review.
Live shellfish may only be harvested from production areas that meet strict classification requirements for human consumption, as set out under European and Irish Food law. The SFPA, in collaboration with the shellfish industry, conducts regular shellfish sampling across all production areas, monitoring the levels of bacterial contamination of shellfish to determine the risk and classification status. Each production area is designated a rating that determines the conditions, if any, that must be observed before shellfish can be placed on the market.
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NOTE TO EDITOR
2026/27 List of Classified live Bivalve Mollusc Production areas in Ireland can be accessed here: https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Molluscan-Shellfish/Classified-Areas
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Molluscan Shellfish Safety Committee (MSSC), which includes a wide range of stakeholders in Ireland’s LBM Industry, allows for cooperation to maintain a balanced and robust shellfish monitoring programme in Ireland. A key component is the National Microbiological Monitoring and Classification Programme which is a requirement of European food law. In Ireland, the SFPA is the Competent Authority for the classification of shellfish areas as part of its statutory remit promoting compliance with sea-fisheries legislation and ensuring seafood safety. The SFPA carries out an annual review of all shellfish classifications utilising the previous three-year dataset of microbiological results for classifications. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is used as a proxy or bacterial indicator; E. coli levels in shellfish samples are used to determine the classification status of production sites and determines the required harvesting protocols. During the period January 2023 to January 2026, more than 4,800 microbiological E. coli samples were taken by the SFPA from areas classified for shellfish production. As part of the 2026 review of classified bivalve mollusc production areas in Ireland, a complete list of the E. coli results for the review period was forwarded to the Implementation Team (comprising the SFPA, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, IFA Aquaculture, and other Industry members). This gives the opportunity for stakeholders to make submissions regarding E. coli results which can clearly be shown to be directly caused by exceptional or once off events. These matters are raised at the annual Implementation meeting.
The classification criteria under legislation1 are detailed in the Code of Practice for the Classification and Microbiological Monitoring of Bivalve Mollusc Production Areas in Ireland, which is available on the SFPA website (here: https://www.sfpa.ie/What-We-Do/Molluscan-Shellfish/Guidance-Documents). Classifying shellfish production areas in this way gives a clear indication of their hygiene status, resulting in A, B or C classifications (from highest standard to lowest).
About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit: www.sfpa.ie